Durban residents to benefit from 50% debt write-off as City intensifies meter rollout

Cash-strapped residents and businesses are set to benefit after eThekwini Municipality reinstated its Special Debt Relief Programme, offering a 50% write-off on arrears owed up to January 2025.

The programme was reinstated after a full council meeting held at Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre today.

The programme, which runs from November 1, 2025 to January 31, 2026, allows customers to settle the remainder through instalments by 31 January 2026. No interest will be charged.

Residents and businesses that incurred debt between February 1 and June 30, 2025 must settle the outstanding balance or enter arrangements running until June 30, 2026. The City said no interest will be charged on such agreements.

Last week, the municipality warned residents, and distanced itself from a fake debt relief programme that circulated on social media. It's not clear how many residents were duped by the scam. The debt relief programme can only be approved by a full council.

The municipality also announced that customers who suffered water losses and were only partially compensated through insurance claims also qualify for relief. The difference between the claim amount, average monthly consumption and the insurance payout will be written off once valid proof is provided. Where a water loss can be proven but no insurance claim was lodged, the Municipality will write off the difference between the billed and average consumption.

The Municipality has also begun a large-scale electricity meter rollout following the delivery of 14 000 new meters.

A report to the full council shows 8 000 meters have been prioritised for key service delivery requirements such as rates clearance, 80/20 applications, prepaid conversions, new connections, faulty meter replacements and bypassed meters.

The remaining 6 000 meters are earmarked for Human Settlements projects to address backlogs and ensure full metering coverage in housing developments. So far, about 1 700 meters have been deployed, 1 400 in Human Settlements and 300 for general operational needs.

For August and September, 78% of electricity meters were successfully read, while 22% were estimated due to access challenges or refusals by consumers. In contrast, 90% of water meters were read on actual consumption and 10% estimated because of locked or obstructed properties.

The Revenue Management Directorate has started issuing notifications to customers to ensure access for meter readings and warned that punitive tariffs will apply if accounts remain unread for more than three months after notification.

SUNDAY TRIBUNE